Disney Plus Echo season 1, episode 5 recap “Maya"

The Echo season 1 finale has arrived. The Kingpin is unable to handle Maya's rejection, which places her family in danger.

But little does he know; Maya can achieve victory with the help of her ancestors. Let's not waste another second and dive right into this recap!

Echo season 1, episode 5 recap – The red-headed woodpecker

After harming a red-headed woodpecker with a slingshot, child Maya rushes to bring it to her mother. Her mother can tell that Maya harmed the bird and tries to explain the significance of these animals.

She reminds her daughter that these woodpeckers can carry messages, to warn them of impending danger. After teaching her daughter, Maya's mother proceeds to heal the woodpecker.

This memory will come back to aid Maya later in the episode.

Echo season 1, episode 5 recap – Revenge

Angered that Maya refused to join him on the plane back to New York, The Kingpin decides to take matters into his own hands, beginning with her grandmother. He approaches her at the post office, making small conversation, all the while Maya's grandmother doesn't realize who this man is.

As preparations for the Choctaw Pow Wow celebration begin, Biscuits guides traffic and encounters bad guys from The Kingpin. Although he does not know this, the fact the men blatantly ignore him about where to park, makes him worry.

He contacts Maya who has left the town without telling anyone. As she rests at a gas station rest stop, she tries to ignore the texts until he mentions that he hasn't seen Bonnie or her grandmother.

At this point she removed the contact lens, throwing away the only trace of The Kingpin she has left. Glancing out the window, Maya sees the red-headed woodpecker and knows something is wrong.

She returns to her grandmother's house, gun drawn to find the spirit of her mother present. Maya's mother teaches her to let go of her pain, transporting her back to the night of the car accident.

Maya has been haunted by this event, as it singlehandedly changed her life forever. Maya's mother also reminds her of the strength she carries with her thanks to her ancestors.

She then presents her daughter with the leather maroon suit her grandmother had been working on.
We do see her visiting her ex-husband (the show never specifies what happened), asking about the sewing machine that he saved in case she ever needed it again.

The two reconnect in a brief, sweet scene. The beautiful suit combines Maya's Choctaw heritage with her personality.

Maya wears her suit to the Choctaw Pow Wow celebration, where the bad guys are waiting to open fire and kill the dozens of innocent civilians present. Thanks to the red-headed woodpecker, Maya knows where to go and encounters The Kingpin.

Both Bonnie and her grandmother are captured with The Kingpin having Bonnie translate their conversation. It's apparent that The Kingpin is planning on killing Maya's family so that he can remain her only family.

Channeling her ancestors, Maya is able to use their power and give it to Bonnie and her grandmother. Together they defeat all of Kingpin's men, while Henry and Biscuits take care of the rest at the celebration.

When Maya confronts The Kingpin, she enters his mind to the moment he decided to kill his father who was beating his mother. Maya convinces him not to, healing him of the pain that seemed to morph him into the man he'd later become.

Freaked out by what she did, The Kingpin just leaves... Maya decides to stay and live with her family as the episode concludes with a rather happy ending.

Echo season 1, episode 5 recap – The new Kingpin?

In case you missed the end credit scene, The Kingpin is on his plane returning to New York, still shaken up by what Maya did to him. On the journey home, he's listening to a news report about how the city needs a mayor.

But not just any mayor, a mayor who will finally do their job by doing what's best for the people and the city. As Maya seemed to have changed The Kingpin, it's obvious he will run for mayor but how changed is he?

Echo season 1, episode 5 review

So, I need to address the elephant in the room, why was Echo rated MA? I can only think of two really violent moments but even those didn't seem any worse than what I have seen in Moon Knight or Secret Invasion.

There was no cursing, no gore, so why was this given a MA rating? Secondly, I am mildly disappointed that Daredevil only showed up in the first episode for a couple of minutes, even if that.

I was hoping he'd have a slightly bigger role, without taking that away from Maya. Thirdly, the season 1 finale felt like an abrupt ending to the story.

I believe the point the show was trying to get across was that violence doesn't have to always be the answer. Maya chose to save The Kingpin instead of kill him, but how will this change him moving forward?

As much as I understand and agree with her decision to save him, I don't think hardcore Marvel fans, especially those of The Kingpin and Vincent D'Onofrio, will be very happy if this mega villain is suddenly a changed man. Aside from all of that, did I enjoy Echo?

I honestly did. Considering I had no expectations at all, I really liked it.

I loved that the show dived into Maya's Choctaw culture, and I loved that she got a show of her own. She was easily one of my favorite characters from Hawkeye, so when I found out she was going to have her own show, I was pretty excited.

Her story really broke the Marvel mold in several ways, while being a nice change of pace. I look forward to seeing Maya in another Marvel project.

I believe she has a lot of potential in the MCU.

What did you think of Echo season 1, episode 5? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

You can watch Echo season 1 on Disney Plus.